Kicking off the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest

By Doug Loon
President and CEO
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Coming to you after a fantastic week. I spent part of it down in southeastern Minnesota with our Leaders Lab program. This program introduces business leaders to the array of great communities and businesses from across the state, and this was their final session.

We were down in southeastern Minnesota with our first stop in Faribault at Faribault Mill, then on to Daikin, which makes amazing products and is headquartered here in Minnesota. From there, we traveled to Rochester, where we met with our friends at Mayo Clinic to tour the health facilities and laboratories. We also explored the many facets of Rochester and the incredible investments taking place there.

We also had a thorough discussion about data centers, which was an interesting exploration of the activity happening in Minnesota around data centers and an opportunity to address some of the misinformation that is out there. So, stay tuned for more on that from the Chamber going forward.

It is also a thrill for me to announce the Minnesota Chamber's annual Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest, where nominations officially opened on Monday of this week, launching one of the Chamber's most popular celebrations of Minnesota manufacturing.

The contest shines a spotlight on products that are designed, engineered, and manufactured in communities all across the state, from household items and food products to cutting edge medical technology, heavy equipment, and advanced manufacturing.

Every product tells a story about the people, companies, and communities behind it, highlighting the ingenuity and craftsmanship that make Minnesota a manufacturing leader.

Manufacturers of all sizes are encouraged to nominate products they are proud to make here in Minnesota, and Chamber membership is not required to participate.

Nominations will remain open through August 14, giving businesses several weeks to showcase the products that help drive Minnesota's economy and reputation for innovation.

Once nominations close, the top 32 products will advance to a bracket style competition where Minnesotans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite products through five rounds of head-to-head matchups beginning August 31.

Last year's finalists showcased the incredible diversity of Minnesota manufacturing, featuring everything from military vehicles and aircraft to trailers and mobility technology.

The contest is a fun way to celebrate manufacturing while also reminding Minnesotans that many of the products they rely on every day are proudly made right here in Minnesota.

Public voting will close, and the winner will be announced on October 6 during the Minnesota Chamber's 2026 Manufacturers Summit.

So, if you are a Minnesota manufacturer with a great story to tell, now is the time to submit a nomination and help recognize the innovation happening across our state.

Head to coolestthingmn.com to submit your product today.

And for everyone else, be sure to follow the contest because we will be talking about it on an upcoming podcast. You will have the chance to vote, support, and recognize innovators and manufacturers from all across our state.

That's it for this week. I hope you have a great weekend, and we look forward to catching up with you on the next episode of the Minnesota Business Podcast.